Conservative MP Joy Morrissey deletes tweet criticising Chris Whitty

Conservative MP Joy Morrissey has deleted a tweet in which she criticised the government’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty.

In the now redacted post, the MP for Beaconsfield wrote: “Perhaps the unelected covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister have decided.

“I know it’s difficult to remember but that’s how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state.”

Labour’s the shadow health secretary Wes Streeting pushed back at Ms Morrissey’s comments, remarking : “It is outrageous to see a Government PPS (parliamentary private secretary) attacking the Chief Medical Officer in this way. She should apologise and withdraw this immediately.

“Chris Whitty has never disputed where policy is made – he makes this point repeatedly.”